Polish lawmaker smokes ‘marijuana’ in parliament

In April, Polish lawmakers voted to soften their country’s strict anti-drug laws by giving prosecutors the option not to charge people detained with small quantities of illegal narcotics. But complaining the measures give prosecutors too much discretion, Palikot is seeking the full legalisation of marijuana.

A huge sunspot unleashed a blob of charged plasma Thursday that space weather watchers predict will blast past the Earth on Sunday. Satellite operators and power companies are keeping a close eye on the incoming cloud, which could distort the Earth’s magnetic field and disrupt radio communications, especially at higher latitudes.

The Music of Charlie Parker brought to you by Gilad Atzmon with Strings

Ronnie Scott’s is privileged to welcome Israeli-born Gilad Atzmon performing the music of arguably the greatest alto sax player in jazz history, Charlie Parker. On the night, Gilad will be accompanied by a full string section adding depth to bird's classic compositions. This is a must-see show that has been earning rave reviews around the country!

After 'Citizens United': The Attack of the Super PACs

We’ve known for some time that the pattern, extent and impact of political advertising would be transformed and supercharged by the Supreme Court’s January 2010 Citizens United ruling. But the changes, even at this early stage of the 2012 campaign, have proven to be more dramatic and unsettling than all but the most fretful analysts had imagined.

While Some Waste, Others Feast

Alexander, a 24-year-old law student dines almost exclusively on the food that other Germans – grocery stores, restaurants and supermarkets – throw away. supermarkets and grocery stores 'sort out' potatoes that are too large, cucumbers that are "too bent" for dumping The stores’ management eliminate foodstuffs considered ‘unattractive’, even if they are still edible. As a result, thousands of tonnes of apples, bananas, milk, coffee, yoghurt, sugar and cheese rot in enourmous garbage containers .In response to what the food retail industry has dubbed ‘looting’, supermarkets and grocery stores are now locking up their garbage containers. Many companies have even hired security personnel to keep away the looters from containers all over the country , a bakery chain used to toss up to 12 tons of bread every month. "Now, we burn the old bread as (fuel) for our backing ovens.

Who Wants War With Iran?

While U.S. air and naval power would prevail, Iranian civilians would die, as some of their nuclear facilities are in populated areas. . . And a bloodied and beaten Iran would then go all-out for a bomb.All U.S. ships, including carriers in the Persian Gulf, would be at risk from shore-based anti-ship missiles and the hundreds of missile boats in Iran’s navy. Any sea battle would send oil prices to $200 and $300 a barrel. There goes the eurozone.Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iranian agents in Afghanistan and Iraq could set the region aflame. . And we lack the ground troops to invade and occupy a country three times the size of Iraq.

Is the ruling class too strong to defeat?

THOSE WHO rule will not give up their power peacefully. Imagine what they might do in a revolution--if millions of workers attempted to seize control of the factories, mines, hospitals and schools and run them democratically.A mass movement that is confident in itself can fight for the hearts and minds of soldiers, thereby splitting the military and winning soldiers over to the side of the revolution. The "all-powerful" state then becomes temporarily paralyzed--and overrun by millions of ordinary people who months before never dreamed they had any power to change society. Many a dictator has been toppled in this way--from Russia's Tsar in 1917 to the Ceausescu regime in Romania in 1989.Repression can only work if soldiers are disciplined to carry out their orders. But in circumstances of deep social upheaval, this isn't a foregone conclusion--for the simple reason that many soldiers are themselves workers.Leon Trotsky, "The direct intervention of the masses in historic events...The forcible entrance of the masses into the realm of rulership over their own destiny."

Charlottesville, Va., City Council Passes Resolution Opposing War on Iran

The City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia, home of Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and the University of Virginia, passed on Tuesday evening, January 17, 2012, a resolution believed to be a first in the country, opposing the launching of a war on Iran, as well as calling for an end to current ground and drone wars engaged in by the United States and urging Congress and the President of the United States to significantly reduce military spending. Below is the text of the resolution, followed by an account of how it came to be. As other towns and cities have been inquiring about how they can do the same, this may prove helpful.

U.S. Wants To Incorporate India Into Global Missile Shield

Washington: Weeks after offering to sell its F-35 fifth generation fighter jets, the US said on Wednesday it was open to work with India on joint development of a ballistic missile shield. The offer was made by deputy assistant secretary of defence Robert Scher who said that the Indo-US defence ties were valuable and critical not only for the security and stability of the region, but globally

Russia will target missiles at US AMBs in Georgia

The United States continues to decline Russian requests to come up with binding guarantees that no American of NATO missile defence installation based on European soil will compromise Russia’s deterrence capability. Touching on this matter in his marathon media interview Wednesday, Prime Minister Putin called attention to dangerous plans to deploy American ABMs in Georgia. He said Russia would try to sort out the matter in cooperation with the Georgian opposition and would also target missiles at any Georgian-based ABMs.

Russia Says U.S. Ran NATO's Libyan War, Warns Against Repeat In Syria

MOSCOW: The United States was not an onlooker in the Libyan events and took full control over the NATO operation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.But the U.S. was not an onlooker because in the first days of strikes it used its potential in full, when Libyan air defence was brought out of operation, by delivering intelligence information to its European allies and providing firing support, including from unmanned aircraft. Surely, Americans took full control – we analysed this. “We are concerned about the attempts to repeat the Libyan scenario in Syria. We sincerely tell our American and European partners about it by warning against repeating any variants of using force regardless who and wherefrom is it,” Lavrov said.

Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili: NATO’s "Favorite Despot"

He serves their purposes. He and his regime have recently authorized the deployment of another large military unit of Georgian troops to Afghanistan to serve under NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. When they arrive to join their cohorts already there, the Georgian troop contingent in Afghanistan will be the largest of any non-full NATO member, exceeding even the 1,550 troops that Australia currently has in Afghanistan. So they are providing cannon fodder.Anyone who’s fighting against the United States is actually some sort of a weird terrorist even if they are defending their own country.As to how the US will maintain its control over the Asia-Pacific region through the South China Sea issue, the CNAS study suggested a US-led multilateral security mechanism to counter China's growing power in the region. A new safety network would be formed with major players around China, such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. These points clearly outline America's eagerness to force its own rule upon the South China Sea. Although accusing China of attempting to dominate the South China Sea, it is fairly obvious that the one who wants to rule the region is the US. One classic example is the recent US sanction on companies in China, Singapore and the UAE for what the US said is selling refined oil to Iran.

The march towards an oil embargo against Iran and continuing military threats against the country from both the US and Israel are escalating global tensions.

Having recently doubled the number of US aircraft carrier battle groups within striking distance of the Persian Gulf, the Obama administration reportedly used back channels last weekend to deliver a threatening ultimatum to the Iranian government. It identified “red lines”, which, if Iran crosses them, would trigger a US attack. Chief among these is Tehran making good on a threat made last month to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which at least a fifth of the world’s oil must pass, in retaliation for what amounts to a looming US-European sanctions blockade designed to strangle the Iranian economy and permit “regime change” in this country of 70 million people

Economic, military pressures on Iran escalate global tensions

The march towards sweeping economic sanctions against Iran together with continuing military threats against the country from both the US and Israel are ratcheting up global tensions to an increasingly dangerous level.

AMERICA ON A WAR FOOTING: Thousands of US troops deploying to Israel

This and other reports suggest that Israel and the US are on a war footing. We are at a very dangerous crossroads in our history. The US and Israel are deploying troops and military hardware in the context of a major air defense exercise. They are also involved in major naval war games in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, reservist US Air Force pilots have been dispatched to the Middle East.

Worries Mount over Blowback of Israeli Attack on Iran

A former senior adviser on the Middle East to the last four U.S. presidents says that "the negatives far outweigh the positives" of war with Iran and the United States should augment Israel's nuclear weapons delivery systems to dissuade it from attacking the Islamic Republic.

Washington Moves The World Closer To War

Since my January 11 column http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/11/the-next-war-on-washingtons-agenda/ and the news alert posted on January 14 http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/14/news-alert/, more confirmation that Washington is moving the world toward a dangerous war has appeared. The Obama regime is using its Ministry of Propaganda, a.k.a., the American media, to spread the story that President Obama, Pentagon chief Panetta, and other high US officials are delivering strong warnings to Israel not to attack Iran.

US Cyberspace Supremacy

Prof. Igor Panarin - The United States was first to approach cyberspace as a new sphere of military action, along with the existing military domains such as land, sea, air and space. The concept dates back to 1998, but it was only interpreted into a concrete action plan following the war in South Ossetia in August 2008, which did not play out well for the US and its Georgian proxy.

Gold price 'to hit $2,000 an ounce'

In September gold hit a record of $1,920 an ounce but an annual survey from Thomson Reuters predicts the price will rise again as investors search for a safe haven from US economic woes and low interest rates in Europe

Beyond the Cashless Society: IBM’s Vision for the Future

Fresh on the heels of India’s massive databasing program that is set to encompass all 1.2 billion members of its population, recent announcements by IBM should be drawing the attention of some 300 million Americans.

Here’s to the end of the ‘special relationship’ and more outing of Mossad

The bumper sticker reads, “I love my country…but I think we should start seeing other people” and recent events lead me to believe it could actually be happening in regards to the “special relationship” between US and Israel.

$422,320 for a College Degree? With Tuition Skyrocketing, It is Time to Rethink Higher Education

Unless we act now, the current $1 trillion student debt bubble is going to look small in 18 years—and the only ones able to go to college will be the children of the 1%. $422,320. That's what The Daily, News Corp. and Apple's daily news outlet for the iPad, calculated a college education could cost members of the class of 2034—children born this year, for the most part—if they attend one of the nation's priciest schools.

Response to George Mitchell Regarding Why it is Apartheid

"This is much worse than apartheid. Israeli measures, the brutality, make apartheid look like a picnic." In the third ATLANTIC EXCHANGE series, Senator George Mitchell, former U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, is featured in the segment of Is Peace Possible?, a multimedia presentation and special report on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When the “A” word comes up at around the 50-minute mark, Mr. Mitchell expresses his disapproval of using “complicated words” and “inflammatory words and phrases that create aggravation and hostility”. Not facing the true facts on the ground creates aggravation and increases hostility and although Apartheid is complex, the word itself is not.

Oil prices, Iran are increasingly sources of concern

The price of crude oil and growing tensions with Iran are bubbling to the top of economists’ and policymakers’ worry lists for 2012, as U.S. and European Union sanctions threaten to reduce the sales of Iranian oil and put pressure on one of the world’s largest petroleum exporters.

America’s Last Chance

America has one last chance, and it is a very slim one... or they can descend into tyranny... he is the only candidate who is not owned lock, stock, and barrel by the military-security complex, Wall Street, and the Israel Lobby. All of the others, including President Obama, are owned by exactly the same interest groups. There are no differences between them. Every candidate except Ron Paul stands for war and a police state, and all have demonstrated their complete and total subservience to Israel.

Any conflict on Iran is a direct threat to Russia’s security – Rogozin

The escalating conflict around Iran should be contained by common effort, otherwise the promising Arab Spring will grow into a “scorching Arab Summer,” says Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s former envoy to NATO. “Iran is our close neighbor, just south of the Caucasus. Should anything happen to Iran, should Iran get drawn into any political or military hardships, this will be a direct threat to our national security,” stressed Rogozin. Dmitry Rogozin, who served as Russia’s special envoy to NATO in 2008-2011, was appointed deputy prime minister by Vladimir Putin in December. On Friday he was bidding farewell to his NATO colleagues in the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

Woman put in jail for being poor

The recession ruined Linda Ruggles’ business and she has been selling plasma twice a week since to make ends meet. The blood bank couldn’t bail her out from behind bars though, which is where she ended up after she couldn’t pay a $480 fine.

Iran has 'proof' US killed scientist

Iranian state television said today Tehran had evidence Washington was behind the latest assassination of one of its nuclear scientists. In the fifth attack of its kind in two years, a magnetic bomb was attached to the door of 32-year-old Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan's car during the Wednesday morning rush-hour in the capital. His driver was also killed.

LIBYA and the NTC: 12,000 U.S. troops to Libya

It is with great disappointment that I receive the news from foreign media publications and Libyan sources that our President now has 12,000 U.S. troops stationed in Malta and they are about to make their descent into Libya. For those of you who have not followed closely the situation in Libya, the resistance to the rule of the National Transitional Council is strong. The National Transitional Council (NTC) cast of characters has about as much support on the ground as did Mahmoud Abbas before the United Nations request for Palestinian statehood or Afghanistan's regal-looking but politically impotent Hamid Karzai or for that matter, George W Bush after eight years.

After Fukushima, fish tales

Dewar, the executive director of Physicians for Global Survival, a Canadian anti-nuclear group, says the Canadian government has downplayed the radiation risks from Fukushima and is doing little to monitor them. “We suspect we’re going to see more cancers, decreased fetal viability, decreased fertility, increased metabolic defects – and we expect them to be generational,” she said. And evidence has emerged that the impacts of the disaster on the Pacific Ocean are worse than expected.

Cashless Society: India Implements First Biometric ID Program for all of its 1.2 Billion Residents

Over the past few months, I have written several articles dealing with the coming cashless society and the developing technological control grid. I also have written about the surge of government attempts to gain access to and force the use of biometric data for the purposes of identification, tracking, tracing, and surveillance... Current events in India should serve not just as a warning, but also as a foreshadowing of the events to come in the Western world, specifically the United States.

SOPA And PIPA Sponsors Caving In To Opposition

As more and more actions are planned in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), the dual pieces of anti-online piracy legislation moving through Congress, the architects and supporters of these bills have finally begun tiptoeing back. PIPA co-sponsor Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) on late Friday released a statement saying: “I would not vote for final passage of PIPA, as currently written, on the Senate floor.”

'Wastewater is a drought-proof supply and a very viable option compared to imported water and other options' Next time you pour a glass of water from the tap try not to think about this - you might be about to drink what you once flushed away. Rising numbers of Americans are consuming wastewater, or 'toilet on tap', without even realising it, according to an official report. Even though it once contained human waste, food scraps and bath scum, the National Research Council claims that it could actually be better for you than fresh water.

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